Publication:

Status of oxidants and antioxidants in rheumatoid arthritis patients of north Karnataka

Background Oxidant stress as a result of increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or a reduction in the body’s endogenous antioxidant defense system is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of the study was to establish the status of oxidative/nitrosative stress in RA patients of north Karnataka.

Methods Thirty RA patients and equal number of healthy individuals (controls) were included in the study. The morning stiffness (MS) and disease activity score 28 (DAS28) of RA patients were examined. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were estimated. Biochemical parameters uric acid, lipid peroxide (LPO), nitric oxide (NOx), vitamin C & E, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured.

Results Significant increased ESR (11.20 mm/hr vs. 40.97 mm/hr, 265.80%), uric acid (3.85 mg/dL vs. 6.73 mg/dL, 74.81%), LPO (1.12 μmol/L vs. 2.35 μmol/L, 109.82%) and NOx (16.19 μmol/L vs. 45.43 μmol/L, 180.61%) levels with significant decreased of the levels of Hb (12.59 g/dL vs. 10.16 g/dL, 19.30%), vitamin C & E (11.20.mg/L vs. 3.87.mg/dL, 65.45% and 13.01 mg/L vs. 7.05 mg/dL, 45.81%), SOD (3757.90 U/g Hb vs. 2201.20 U/g Hb, 41.42%) and GSH-Px (1.81 U/g Hb vs. 0.92 U/g Hb, 49.17%) were observed in RA. There was direct correlation found between MS, DAS-28 and ESR with serum LPO and NOx in RA patients. A significant negative correlation was detected between activity parameters with biochemical parameters in RA patients.

Conclusions Increased oxidants level and decreased non-enzymatic/enzymatic antioxidants level in RA patients of north Karnataka confirm an association between oxidative/nitrosative stress and rheumatoid arthritis.